UCLA running game not even crawling

UCLA running back Kahlil Bell is tackled by Tennessee defensive back Eric Berry in the Bruins' opener. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SLIDE SHOW

UCLA vs. Tennessee

LOS ANGELES Bob Palcic has been teaching people how to block for over 30 years, with stops scattered all around a map of North America.

He has coached at five universities, from Ball State to USC to Wisconsin, and for four NFL teams, from the New Orleans Saints to the Detroit Lions. Oh, and don't forget a brief stay in the Canadian Football League.

So, when was the most recent time Palcic faced the kind of challenge he is now, as the offensive line coach of the nation's most anemic rushing team, UCLA?

"Probably my first year at the University of Arizona, 1984," Palcic said. "That's a long time."

For the record, 24 years is longer than anyone Palcic currently is coaching has been breathing air.

Of all the labors set before this Bruins' coaching staff, which some people have dubbed a dream team, generating a running game appears to be the most urgent.

Palcic's line was supposed to be a weakness. It has been. He was so steamed after watching film of the 59-0 blowout at BYU, he practically fired the whole group and opened the starting spots to auditions.

The running backs were supposed to be OK, but - already hobbled by injuries - they have disappointed.

UCLA has not chosen to run the ball often and why should it? Quarterback Kevin Craft has handed off 47 times (vs. 82 passes) and it has netted 38 yards, an average of 0.8 yards per carry. That's good for 119th out of 119 major-college teams. The Bruins aren't even close to the No. 118 team, San Diego State.

Why even bother trying?

"I think we do the kids harm when we don't do it that way," UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow said. "It's tougher to defend. If you know we're going to pass the whole game, how tough is that?"

Chow said he will begin restoring balance Saturday against Arizona. He might have the perfect chance, when his resistible force meets a moveable object.

Arizona coach Mike Stoops was upset at how his team tackled in a 36-28 loss at New Mexico last week. Asked if he would respect the Bruins' run game, Stoops said, "Sure."

"Look at who they played. That was a very impressive BYU team and Tennessee's front guys are as good as anybody's in the country," Stoops said. "They did a lot of twisting and stunting at BYU, which can make it difficult on your run game, especially if you have a young line like UCLA has."

Yeah, there's that. The Bruins entered fall camp with only two linemen who had started a game in their collegiate lives. One of them, center Micah Reed, is out for a few weeks with a partially torn knee ligament. The other, Micah Kia, is in danger of being benched after his performance at BYU.

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